Adjustable screw-joint coupling for supply-pipes.



P. MUELLER & A. G. SGHUERMANN.

ADJUSTABLE SCREW JOINT COUPLING FOR SUPPLY PIPES. 1,091,692-

APPLIOATION FILED MAILM, 1911.

Patented Mar. 31, 191 4 awuc/vfiow @Hip Hamlin ,4 \JHQRN) kkblmngmmUNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE.

PHILIP MUELLER AND ANTON C. SCHUERMANN, OF DECATUR; ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORST0 H. MUELLER MANUFACTURING- COMPANY, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS,. A CORPORA-TION OF ILLINOIS.

ADJUSTABLE SCREW-JOINT COUPLING- FOR SUPPLY PIPES.

Application filed March 24, 1911. Serial No. 616,696.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PHILIP MUELLER and Armor: C. SCHUERMANN, citizensof the United States, residing at Decatur, in the county of Macon andState of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements inAdjustable Screw-Joint Couplings for Supply-Pipes, of'which thefollowing is a speci float-ion. m

This invention-relates to coupling pipes such as are employed in,makingconnection between service pipes and the faucets of bath tubs, washbasins, and the like, this connection forming what is now generallyknown in the art as the supply pipe, and relates more particularly tothe manner'in which this pipe is coupled up to the part or parts towhich it is connected.

In order to permit the use of coupling pipes or the supply pipe instandardsizes as to length and diameter, especially for open plumbingwork, it is found advisable to provide adjustable connections betweenthe supply pipe and either one or both of the parts to which it isconnected, this being due to the fact that the distance between theservice pipe and the faucet shank, spud, or tail-piece as the case maybe, varies in installation. As the supply pipe, in open plumbing work,is visible throughout substantially its length, its appearance has moreor less effect upon the beauty of the plumbing, and consequently thesupply pipe should be, as far as possible, symmetrical in appearancewith the remaining portions of the fixtures. In view of the fact thatthis symmetrical appearance must be provided in the face of conditionsproduced by the liquid pressure, several essen-' tials are necessary.One of the essentials re: quired is that the coupling shall not beliable to blow-outs, and yet at the same time provide a structure inwhich the internal diameter of the supply should beof sufiicient sizefor all practical purposes while the outer diameter is such as will notprovidea bulky appearance. To meet these conditions, it has beenproposed to em loy a slip-joint connection with the end of? the supplypipe telescoping into the fittingmember, the supply pipe preferablyhaving a flange against which the coupling nut may operate to re- .tainthe 'connection, a packingbcing employed in' conneetion with thisflange. This construction, owing to the liability of blowouts under-highliquid pressure, is not ontirely satisfactory, one reason beingthat itis diflicult to provide a proper manipulation of the packingso as toinsure a non-leakage of liquid. Another feature greatly desired insupply pipes, is to provide for variations in the distance between theservice pipe and the faucet or lavatory member by the use of aSpecification of Letters Patent.- Patented Dial. 31, 1914.

standard length supply pipe, making the connections such as to eliminateall liability of blow-outs, one way of meeting this latter conditionbeing to provide for a suflicient adustmcnt at theiends of the supplypipe to produce the proper exposed length of the pipe and yet provide asufiicient length of unexposed portion within the coupling as will makethe latter, practically blow-out proof. And apreferable form of deviceis to provide'for connecting the'supply' and service pipes by aslip-joint, and providing for screw threaded adjustments in theconnections at the opposite end of the supply pipe. To provide thisarrangement we obtain the combined effect of the use of bothscrewthreaded and slip-joint connections, obtaining the advantages ofboth and in addition eliminating all of the disadvantages of both. Inobtaining this result we provide forcompressing the packing onto asmooth face of the coupling.

The object of our invention is, therefore, to provide a coupling pipeand connect-ions capable of providing the essentials referred to, andthe invention c'onsists'in the improved construction and combination ofparts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and par ticularly pointed out in the a pended claims.

In the: drawings, in whic similar reference characters indicate similarparts in each of the views,Figure 1 is a view partly in elevatlon andpartly in section of a preferred form of coupling pipe mounted inposition.

Fig.2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional pipe. Fig. 4 is a detailview showing a modified form of enlargement for the supp v p p In thedrawings, 10 designates-a faucet shank exteriorly threaded andpreferably having the interiorof its end flared "as'a't 11'. This shankis' illustrative only 101 1;)

ably being formed with a reduced lower end couplin -supply pipe may'equal diameter with the body of the plpc purpose of describing theinvention, it being understood that the part represented by the shankmay be a portion of any type of fitting, such as the shank of a bath orbasin cook, the tail-piece of a lavatory member, etc, the inventionbeing applicable for use in connection with any of the well known typesof fittings.

12 designates the service pi c, and 13 the coupling or supply pipe, thelatter prefer and connected to the service pipe by a slip joint 14 ofany preferred type. It is to be understood, however, that we do notlimit the invention to this particular formation or the lower end of thepipe or the form of since it will be obvious that the have its; lowerend of and that any suitable and preferred form of connection may bemade between the supply and service pipes.

The principal feature of our invention is the manner in which the supplypipe is coupled to the shank 10, and a preferred form is shown in thedrawings and Will now be described.

The supply pipe 18, adjacent its upper end, is preferably formed with anenlarged outer diameter provided in any suitable way as by expanding thepipe, and this enlarged portion, indicated at 15, is screw threadedexternally. Between the end of the pipe and the screw-threaded portion,the pipe is oi reduced diameter, as indicated at 16, said reduced endhaving an cxternal smooth face 1'7 and being of a diameter to permit itto extend loosely into, but approximately fit the interior of the shank10 adjacent its inlet end, said reduced portion being formed in anysuitable manner, preferably by the pipe being drawn to produce theresult.

18 designates a coupling member having its threads preferably on twoplanes complemental to the threads of the shank and the enlarged portion15, said coupling member also being formed with an internal shouldershown in the present instance as having an inwardly extending flange 19positioned intermediate the threaded portions, said flange having an*opening of substantially equal diameter with the outer diameter of thesmooth portion. 17, the structure being such that said smooth portionwill pass loosely through the opening in the flange 19.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 3 the coupling nicmbcr'18 comprises aninternally thr aded nut-like head having a relatively long sleeve-likeextension formed integral therewith and thrrmdcd throughout its length,the internal diameter of the said head being greater than the iutrrnpldiametcr of the said extension and the latter being appreciably longerthan the threaded portion 15 of the supply pipe 13 whereby said pipe maybe adjusted longitudinally of the coupling member for a considerableextent and this without exposing the threaded portion 15 of the supplypipe.

As will be seen, the relative arrangement of parts just described issuch as to provide adjustment for variations in distance between theinlet end of the shank 10 and the outlet cud of the service pipe 12. Thethreaded connection of the coupling mem ber 18 and shank 10 is notprimarily intend ed for the purpose of providing for adjustment. thisconnection acting to form the packing. this packing being provided bythe prefeable use or a suitable gasket 20 which is compressed on thesmooth portion 17 by the action of the opposed faces provided by theflared end 11 of the shank and the internal shoulder within the couplingmember, as shown in Fig. 2, the threading or" the member 18 on to theshank causing the gasket to be compressed so as to form a liquid tightjoint external of the smooth portion 17 at a point in advance of theflange 19. The adjustment is provided by the screw threaded connectionof tho por tion 15 of the supply pipe 1%, with the c tension of thecoupling member 18, the threads oi: the portion 15 being preferablymultiple of the threads of the shank 10 in order that the member 18 mayhave its threading movement on both members without providing a relativemovement between the supply pipe and the shank, this con slructioupermitting the supply pipe to be positioned prior to making theconnection, which position will be maintained during the couplingmovement of the member .18 on the shank, this coupling movement actingto compress the gasket 20 on to the su'moth portion .17, this beingespecially advantagcous for use where a connection of supply and servicepipes is fixed. as, for instance, by a. wipe joint. Obviously, however,the particular relationship described oi? the threads on the shank andthe enlarged p0"- tion llimay be other than that above described, inwhich case the supply pipe and shank will have a relative movcmcutduring the threading of the. coupling member 18 on to the shank, unlesslhc relative rotativc threading movomcnls of the coupling member and thesupply pipe be such as would retain the shank and supply pipe againstrelative axial movement. By pro viding the relationship referred to,how-- ever, the depth of the threads on the enlargcd portion is reducedand eliminates the necessity for providing an unequal Wall thickness tothe supply pipe at this point. The particular ad vanl ages of thisconstruction not lwrctoi'ore indicated he in the fact that we obtain alloi ihe'advzmtagcs of the slip joint stru ture with respect to the gasinvention as disclosed in the ket packing, and at the same time providea threaded connection which positively posit1ons the supply piperelative to the shank, at any desired point within the limit ofadustments provided by the threads, the threaded portion acting tosupport the connection against blow-outs. Furthermore, the gasketpacking is located in advance of the threaded connection and therebytends to prevent the liquid from passing into the threaded connection.

As will be readily understood, the adjustable connection for the supplypipe provided by the threaded portion 15, may be employed for connectingthe supply pipe with the service pipe, the parts being preferablyarranged substantially as shown in Fig. 2, in which case the partindicated as 10 would represent the service pipe, providing practicallya reversal of the arrangement disclosed in Fig. 1. Or, if desired, bothends of the supply pipe may be formed to provide an adjustableconnection of the type shown in Fig. 2.

While we prefer to expand the supply pipe as shown in Fig. 3, thisconstruction is not absolutely essential, since, as shown in Fig. 4, theenlargement may be provided by securing a threaded thimble 30 to the periphery of the supply pipe at the proper point, the securing beingpreferably by sweating the thimble onto the pipe. This form provides anequivalent for the form shown in Fig. 3, the two structures beingconsidered as being equivalents within the scope of the claims.

\Vhile we have herein disclosed a pre ferred form and modificationsthereof, it is to be understood that changes and modifications thereinrequired under the conditions of use may be employed and arecontemplated by the invention herein so lon as they fall within thespirit and 500 e o the ollowing claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new is:-

1. In combination, an externally threaded shank having its inner wallflared at its end, a supply pipe having an enlarged threaded portionadjacent its end and being reduced" outwardly of the threaded portion,the reduced outer end of the supply pipe fitting loosely in the shank, acoupling member hav-' ing internal threads engaging over the enlargedportion of the supply pipe and about the shank, and further having aninwardly extending flange embracing the reduced end of the supply pipein spaced relation from the end of the shank, and a gasket fitting inthe flared end of the shank and resting against the flange, whereby thegasket is compressed against the supply pipe by the tightening of. thecoupling member over the gasket.'

2. In a coupling, an externally threaded shank having its inner wallflaring at the end of the shank, a supply pipe extending loosely intothe shank and having an enlarged threaded portion extending outwardlyfrom the shank. a gasket engaging in the flared end of the shank aboutthe supply pipe, and a coupling member threaded on the end of the shankand having an inwardly extending flange engaging with the gasket andbinding the same in the shank and on the supply pipe, the couplingmember having an internally threaded portion extending beyond the flangeand engaging adju.-tabl v over the threaded and enlarged portion of thesupply pipe.

3. In a coupling. an externally threaded shank having its inner wall flring at the end of the shank. a supply-pipe extending loosely into theshank and having an enlarged threaded portion extending outwardly fromthe shank, a gasket engaging in the flared end of the shank about thesupply pipe. and a coupling member threaded on the end of the shank andhaving an internal shoulder engaging with the gasket and binding thesame in the shank and on the supply pipe, the coupling member having anintegral threaded portion extendmgbeyond the said shoulder, and engagingadwstably over the threaded and enlarged portion of the supply pipe.

In testlmony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

PHILIP MUELLER. ANTON C. SCHUERMANN.

Witnesses:

TJRONARU F. hlt'lxnsnnx, \Vnmmr ll. Broom.

